Ensure your smoke detector in French home is maintained and legal

Property owners in France are being advised to check their smoke detectors have not ‘expired’, after the 10-year anniversary of a major safety law recently took place.

A 2015 law in France (the Morange law, part of the wider ‘ALUR’ property laws) made the installation of smoke detectors in all properties, both rented and owned, mandatory. 

It also gave all smoke detectors a maximum lifespan of 10 years, after which they needed to be replaced. 

The law was passed in 2010 but came into effect on March 8, 2015 so just over 10 years ago. 

If you have not replaced your smoke detector since this time, you should do so, as the current device will be legally outdated.

Check detectors conform with rules

A smoke detector – détecteur autonome avertisseur de fumée or DAAF – has to conform to a number of rules to abide by the law

Appliances must: 

• Have a ‘CE’ sticker to show it is accepted by EU standards

• Conform to the NF EN 14604 regulations 

• Emit both a sound as well as a flashing light or strong vibration (to inform hard of hearing individuals that the alarm is going off) 

A certified smoke detector that conforms to these rules should cost between €10 and €30, and can be purchased from hardware and DIY stores, electronic stores, and several online outlets. 

Other cheaper devices could be available online but they may not conform to the above regulations, meaning they are not accepted.

Check that the device you want to purchase meets the regulations above, and be careful to look for the product’s lifespan. 

Although there is a maximum period of 10 years before a smoke detector needs to be replaced, some versions are only guaranteed for between three and five years – or for certain devices, two years – meaning they must be replaced more regularly. 

The maximum lifespan of the device should be clearly stated. 

So you will need to replace a device purchased now by 2035, sooner if it does not have a ten-year guarantee or is damaged.

All properties need at least one smoke detector

All properties should have a minimum one smoke detector, preferably placed in the hallway. 

In the case of long-term rented properties it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure a complaint smoke detector is in place, and ensure that regular checks are carried out on the device.

However, it is up to the tenant to ensure the device is working, and inform the landlord if there are any issues. 

The tenant can and should replace the smoke detector if it is not working.

In the case of short-term and holiday lets, the responsibility falls on the property owner/manager to ensure the smoke detector is working. 

There are no fines for failing to have a smoke detector installed in an owner-occupied property (in mainland France). However if there is a fire in your home that results in damage or death then you may be liable, leading to fines and potentially a prison sentence.

Read more about smoke detector laws in our article here.